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<br /> <br />0, <br /><. ' <br />It\) <br />O;@ <br />~'" <br />--t <br /> <br />MonitOring <br /> <br /> <br />The monitoring program is the primary method for <br />measuring the success of meeting the Colorado River <br />Management Plan objectives. The ongoing monitoring <br />program will be designed to identify degradation of the <br />resource or quality of the visitor experience below existing <br />acceptable levels. The monitoring program will also be <br />capable of scientifically assessing the degree of impact to <br />provide a basis for recom mending plan modification. <br /> <br />The majority of impacts occur at attraction sites such as <br />waterfalls, sidestreams, cultural sites, and campsites. Some <br />of these impacts are short term, some are long term and <br />others are permanent. For example, crowding at a campsite <br />would adversely affect the visitor experience for one night, <br />but vandalism of Indian ruins, such as the Na-nkoweap <br />granaries, would be permanent. <br /> <br />Monitoring will focus on assessing impacts on the <br />environment, impacts on the visitor experience, and other <br />aspects of the Colorado River Management Plan. Specific <br />elements of the monitoring program are outlined below: <br /> <br />1. Environmental Analysis <br /> <br />A. Soi I and Vegetation Impact <br /> <br />Aerial photographs of beaches and attraction sites <br />representing various levels of use will be taken <br />befo,e and after the summer use season. F,om <br />these photographs, the vegetation, bare soil and <br />rock wi II be mapped, and the proportion of areas <br />impacted by river use (such as hiking and camping) <br />will be computed. The amount of beach erosion <br />associated with altered water flows from Glen <br />Canyon Dam will also be assessed from these <br />photogr ap hs. <br /> <br />Line and quadrant vegetative transects will be <br />surveyed before and after the summer season to <br />measure changes in species composition, density, <br />. and ratio of vegetation to bare soil. <br /> <br />Samples of sand from key camping beaches will be <br />taken to determine the degree to which charcoal <br />and other debris have been introduced. <br /> <br />Physical profiles of beaches will be correlated <br />with the aerial photographs to determine the <br />degree of erosion that is occurring. If a strong <br />correlation exists, the frequency of survey profiles <br />may be reduced. <br /> <br />15 <br /> <br />